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Event Detail

Thursday, December 5, 2013

The Israeli Economy and the Regional and Global Challenges

POSITIVE RSVP ONLINE ONLY:http://belfercenter.hks.harvard.edu/events/steinitz.html The Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs will
host a Director's Seminar with Dr. Yuval Steinitz, Israeli
Minister of Intelligence, in the Belfer Center Library
(L369). Dr. Yuval Steinitz was appointed Minister of Intelligence in
March of 2013. In his current capacity, Minister Steinitz oversees
the intelligence community, including the Mossad (Israel's
equivalent of the CIA), Shin-Bet (Israel's equivalent of the FBI),
and the Israeli Atomic Energy Committee.Minister Steinitz also takes a leading role on behalf of the
Israeli government in the international campaign against the
Iranian nuclear program. In addition, he is in charge of the
economic aspects of the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. Prior to his current position, Minister Steinitz was the
Finance Minister from 2009-2013. He constructed the stimulus
package of 2009 and also launched the biennial budget framework
(2009-2010 & 2011-2012). Minister Steinitz later designed and
implemented major reforms in the energy, technology and housing
sectors. In addition, Minister Steinitz led Israel's historic
accession to the OECD in 2010. Before joining the government, Minister Steinitz was a pivotal
member in the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee,
serving as Chair from 2003-2006. In this role Minister Steinitz
expanded the committee's mandate and scope, and initiated several
influential parliamentary reports focusing on intelligence-related
issues. In this capacity, Minister Steinitz co-established, along
with Senator Jon Kyl, the Joint Dialogue on Defense between the
U.S. Congress and the Knesset. Minister Steinitz has been a Knesset
Member since July 1999. Prior to entering politics, Minister Steinitz was a professor
of philosophy at Haifa University, where he specialized in
metaphysics and philosophy of science. He was also chosen as
Distinguished Lecturer two years in a row. He holds a B.A and M.A
(with honors) from the Hebrew University, and a Ph.D from Tel Aviv
University. In 1993 he won the Alon Scholarship, the most
prestigious award for young doctoral students in Israel. Minister Steinitz has published four books on philosophy,
which have received great public acclaim in Israel. His work,
Invitation to Philosophy, is the most popular philosophy book in
Israel's history, with forty editions printed to date. During the 1980s, Minister Steinitz was an active member of
the left-wing “Peace Now” movement. His political positions moved
rightward in 1994, following his criticism of the Oslo
Accords.
Minister Steinitz served in the IDF infantry corps, first in the
Golani Brigade, where he took part in Operation Litani on Israel's
northern border (1978), and then in the Alexandroni Reserve Brigade
during the 1982 Lebanon War. As space is limited for this event, RSVPs will be
accepted on a first come, first served basis. Belfer Center
Seminars are strictly off-the-record. By requesting to attend the
seminar, you agree that you will comply with the Belfer Center's
strict policy against recording or disclosing the contents of the
seminar. Your access is conditioned on your compliance with these
restrictions. Should you violate these rules, the Center will
pursue all available legal options and you will be excluded from
all future events.